# 2011–12 in Swiss football

The following is a summary of the 2011–12 season of competitive football in Switzerland.

## Super League

The Super League is the top tier of the Swiss football league system. The 2011–12 season was the 115th season since its foundation and the season began on 16 July 2011 and ended on 23 May 2012.

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Basel (C) | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 78 | 33 | +45 | 74 | Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Luzern | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 46 | 32 | +14 | 54 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 3 | Young Boys | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 51 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Servette | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 48 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 5 | Thun | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 43 | |
| 6 | Zürich | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 43 | 44 | −1 | 41 | |
| 7 | Lausanne-Sport | 34 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 29 | 61 | −32 | 30 | |
| 8 | Grasshopper | 34 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 32 | 66 | −34 | 26 | |
| 9 | Sion (O) | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 40 | 35 | +5 | 17 | Qualification to relegation play-offs |
| 10 | Neuchâtel Xamax (R, D, R, R, R) | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 26 | Demotion to the 2. Liga interregional |
* 1 2 Because 2011–12 Swiss Cup winners Basel qualified for the Champions League, and runners-up Luzern qualified for the Europa League through league position, the distribution of the Europa League spots reverted to league position.
* ↑ Sion were deducted 36 points for fielding ineligible players.
* ↑ Neuchâtel Xamax's license was revoked with immediate effect and they were expelled from the Swiss Football League on 18 January 2012 after not providing necessary financial documents and guarantees. The first-half results of the club will be kept while any matches in spring involving Xamax were cancelled.

## Challenge League

The 2011–12 Challenge League was the ninth season of the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier in the Swiss football league pyramid. The season began on 22 July 2011 and ended on 23 May 2012. Due to the creation of the 1. Liga Promotion that was due to commence the following year, this season would see the reduction in the number of teams competing from 16 to 10. This reconstruction was done to decrease the competitive gap between the two top tiers by converting the second to a purely professional league. The new Promotion League would therefore serve as the semi-professional link to amateur football. Therefore, six teams were due to be relegated, however, as Neuchâtel Xamax were demoted from the top tier to the sixth level, subsequently only five teams were relegated.

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | St. Gallen (C, P) | 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 67 | 31 | +36 | 64 | Promoted to 2012–13 Swiss Super League |
| 2 | Aarau | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 64 | 34 | +30 | 59 | Qualification for Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Bellinzona | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 49 | 21 | +28 | 59 | |
| 4 | Winterthur | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 53 | |
| 5 | Lugano | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 44 | 38 | +6 | 49 | |
| 6 | Wil | 30 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 46 | |
| 7 | Chiasso | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 45 | |
| 8 | Vaduz | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 54 | 45 | +9 | 45 | |
| 9 | Locarno | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 44 | +3 | 45 | |
| 10 | Biel-Bienne | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 43 | |
| 11 | Wohlen | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 36 | |
| 12 | Stade Nyonnais (R) | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 34 | Relegation to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 13 | Étoile Carouge (R) | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 25 | 56 | −31 | 30 | Relegation to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 14 | Delémont (R) | 30 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 60 | −36 | 20 | Relegation to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 15 | Kriens (R) | 30 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 37 | 66 | −29 | 17 | Relegation to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 16 | Brühl (R) | 30 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 30 | 78 | −48 | 16 | Relegation to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |

### Promotion/relegation play-offs

The ninth-placed Super League team Sion played a two-legged play-off against the Challenge League runners-up Aarau for the last slot in the top tier in the 2012–13 season.
Sion won 2–1 on aggregate and the two teams remained in their divisions.

## 1. Liga

The 1. Liga was up until here, the third highest tier in the Swiss football league pyramid, it was the highest tier in amateur football. The 1. Liga was divided into three regional groups, each with 16 teams. Due to the creation of the 1. Liga Promotion that was due to commence the following year, this season would see the number of teams in the groups reduced from 16 to 14 and it would be renamed as 1. Liga Classic. The new Promotion League would serve as the semi-professional link to amateur football. Six clubs could achieve promotion to the new third division, if they had applied for the semi-professional status. The four best U-21 teams would receive a wild card and advance as well. This reconstruction was done to decrease the competitive gap between the two top tiers and the amateur league. No teams were to be relegated to the next lowest level, then the fourth tier which would become the new fifth level.

### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Sion U-21 | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 70 | 41 | +29 | 56 | Youth team wild card |
| 2 | Young Boys U-21 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 74 | 50 | +24 | 52 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 3 | FC Fribourg | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 52 | 40 | +12 | 52 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 4 | Yverdon-Sport FC | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 44 | +9 | 52 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 5 | FC Le Mont | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 51 | 45 | +6 | 51 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 6 | Grand-Lancy FC | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 48 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 7 | FC Meyrin | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 57 | 42 | +15 | 45 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 8 | SC Düdingen | 30 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 63 | 59 | +4 | 45 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 9 | FC Echallens | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 44 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 10 | FC Martigny-Sports | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 41 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 11 | ES FC Malley | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 66 | 61 | +5 | 38 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 12 | FC Bulle | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 59 | −13 | 37 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 13 | Urania Genève Sport | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 51 | 67 | −16 | 36 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 14 | FC Monthey | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 50 | 66 | −16 | 30 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 15 | FC Naters | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 42 | 72 | −30 | 29 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 16 | FC Baulmes | 30 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 25 | 80 | −55 | 14 | To 1. Liga Classic |

### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | BSC Old Boys | 30 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 68 | 36 | +32 | 62 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 2 | FC Breitenrain Bern | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 54 | 25 | +29 | 61 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 3 | FC Baden | 30 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 61 | 31 | +30 | 60 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 4 | Zürich U-21 | 30 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 55 | 49 | +6 | 51 | Youth team wild card |
| 5 | FC Münsingen | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 50 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 6 | Basel U-21 | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 47 | Youth team wild card |
| 7 | FC Solothurn | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 45 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 8 | SC Dornach | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 54 | 50 | +4 | 44 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 9 | FC Schötz | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 54 | 57 | −3 | 42 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 10 | Grasshopper Club U-21 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 40 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 11 | FC Wangen bei Olten | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 29 | 47 | −18 | 33 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 12 | FC Serrières | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 32 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 13 | FC Grenchen | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 64 | −35 | 29 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 14 | SV Muttenz | 30 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 41 | 74 | −33 | 27 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 15 | Thun U-21 | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 58 | −12 | 26 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 16 | SC Zofingen | 30 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 35 | 58 | −23 | 22 | To 1. Liga Classic |

### Group 3

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Tuggen | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 69 | 31 | +38 | 69 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 2 | FC Schaffhausen | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 88 | 28 | +60 | 66 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 3 | SC Young Fellows Juventus | 30 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 83 | 34 | +49 | 64 | Promoted to 2012–13 1. Liga Promotion |
| 4 | USV Eschen/Mauren | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 53 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 5 | St. Gallen U-21 | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 50 | Youth team wild card |
| 6 | FC Rapperswil-Jona | 30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 60 | 51 | +9 | 47 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 7 | SC Cham | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 58 | 46 | +12 | 45 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 8 | FC Mendrisio | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 38 | 33 | +5 | 42 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 9 | Luzern U-21 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 40 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 10 | FC Balzers | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 48 | 66 | −18 | 35 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 11 | Winterthur U-21 | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 37 | 57 | −20 | 32 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 12 | GC Biaschesi | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 29 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 13 | Lugano U-21 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 36 | 64 | −28 | 28 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 14 | FC Muri | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 35 | 66 | −31 | 28 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 15 | SV Höngg | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 31 | 70 | −39 | 23 | To 1. Liga Classic |
| 16 | FC Gossau | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 42 | 84 | −42 | 20 | To 1. Liga Classic |

## Swiss Cup

In the first semi-final Basel beat Winterthur 2–1 and Luzern beat Sion 1–0 in the second semi-final. The winner of the first semi-final was considered as home team in the final, which was played on 16 May 2012 at the Stade de Suisse in Bern.

### Final
## Swiss Clubs in Europe

* Basel as league champions: Champions League group stage
* Zürich as runner-up: Champions League third qualifying round
* Young Boys as third placed team: Europa League third qualifying round
* Sion as 2010–11 Swiss Cup winners: Europa League play-off round
* Thun as fifth placed team: Europa League second qualifying round
* Vaduz as 2010–11 Liechtenstein Cup winners: Europa League second qualifying round

### Basel
#### UEFA Champions League
##### Group stage / Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BEN | BAS | MU | OG |
| 1 | Benfica | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 12 | Advance to knockout phase | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Basel | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 11 | Advance to knockout phase | 0–2 | — | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 9 | Transfer to Europa League | 2–2 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 |
| 4 | Oțelul Galați | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 0 | | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — |

##### Knockout phase
### Zürich
#### UEFA Champions League
##### Third qualifying round

Zürich won 2–1 on aggregate.

##### Play-off round

Bayern Munich won 3–0 on aggregate. Zürich transfer to Europa League group stage

#### Europa League
##### Group stage / Group D
###### Notes

* Note 2: Vaslui played their home matches at Stadionul Ceahlăul, Piatra Neamț as their own Stadionul Municipal did not meet UEFA criteria.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SCP | LAZ | VAS | ZÜR |
| 1 | Sporting CP | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 12 | Advance to knockout phase | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Lazio | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 | Advance to knockout phase | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| 3 | Vaslui | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | 2–2 |
| 4 | Zürich | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 5 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Young Boys
#### Europa League
##### Third qualifying round

Young Boys won 5–1 on aggregate.

##### Play-off round

2–2 on aggregate. Braga won on away goals.

### Sion
#### Europa League
##### Play-off round

* 1.^ FC Sion originally drew 0–0 in the first leg and won 3–1 in the second leg. UEFA overturned the result of both matches. Both matches were awarded 3–0 in favour of Celtic F.C.

### Thun
#### Europa League
##### Second qualifying round

Thun won 2–1 on aggregate.

##### Third qualifying round

3–3 on aggregate. Thun won on away goals.

##### Play-off round

Stoke City won 5–1 on aggregate.

### Vaduz
#### Europa League
##### Second qualifying round

3–3 on aggregate. Vaduz won on away goals.

##### Third qualifying round

Hapoel Tel Aviv won 5–2 on aggregate.